A successful career depends greatly on the relationships you build with your coworkers, superiors, employees and fellow businessmen. It takes effort, determination and time to foster effective working relationships with your colleagues. While maintaining successful relationships is never a simple task, the rewards of building good work relationships are long-lasting and benefit you in your current career, as well as any future endeavors you may pursue.
Leave your personal problems at home. Work is not the place to talk about your ailing grandmother or a faltering marriage. While it’s important to relate to your coworkers and peers, you need to maintain a professional appearance. Talk to your friends outside of work about personal problems and be careful to avoid discussing intimate issues at work. If you feel like a personal problem is going to affect your work performance, pull aside your superior and privately discuss the matter. Don’t go into exceptional detail. Be brief and succinct. Something as simple as, “I just want to let you know that I’m feeling a little down because my sister died this week. I’m trying hard to stay focused, but if I seem a little off, that’s why.” It’s quite all right to let your boss know about anything that could affect your performance at work, but do your best to put aside personal problems when you arrive at work.
Practice good communication at work. If you need someone to do something, tell them directly. Don’t gossip about others at the water cooler; instead, talk to offenders in person and gently address any concerns you may have. If you’re going to be late or need some time off of work, meet with your supervisor to discuss it. Never assume that other workers know what you’re thinking or what your needs are. Be direct, up front and honest. For example, if one of your coworkers is constantly blaring her music to the point where you can’t focus on your job, go to her and ask if she would mind wearing headphones so you can focus. Don’t update your Facebook status to say something like “My coworkers SUCK” and you certainly shouldn’t gossip about her behavior with your peers. Remember that being direct and polite can go a long way in the workplace.
Respect your coworkers even if they don’t always deserve it. Professional relationships require professional behavior. It’s difficult to foster positive working relationships if you’re constantly undermining or behaving disrespectfully toward another employee. Treat your coworkers with dignity and a positive attitude and avoid making snippy, rude or unnecessary comments. If a coworker behaves in a way that is degrading, sexually inappropriate, or racist, take it up with a supervisor rather than being mean directly to that person.